Belleville East senior Miranda Lidisky's accomplishments on the golf course far outnumber the disappointments.
A four-time first team all-Southwestern Conference player who won two SWC individual championships as well as several other tournament titles, Lidisky has long been recognized as one of the most consistent players in the St. Louis area.
During the 2012 season, Lidisky also may have been the most determined and courageous.
Less then a week after placing third at the Southwestern Conference Tournament and just days before the Class AA O'Fallon Regional, Lidisky was diagnosed with mononucleosis.
But instead of stopping Lidisky from playing, the "sleeping sickness" proved to be a motivation.
"For me, not playing in the state tournament (series) was not an option,'' said Lidisky, daughter of Janet and Dan Lidisky. "I love playing golf. I just kept thinking to myself, 'I can do this. I can do this,' and I was able to play.''
Lidisky did far more then just play during the next two weeks. After shooting an 82 at the O'Fallon Regional at Tamarack Country Club in Shiloh, Lidisky overcame tough conditions for another 82 as she won the Normal Sectional at Weibring Golf Course.
Lidisky then put the finishing touches on her amazing accomplishment and her career with a 77 and a tie for ninth place in the rain-shortened Class AA State Tournament held at Hickory Point Golf Course in Decatur.
For that accomplishment during a season which saw her finish with a nine-hole average of 37 and an 18-hole average of 78, Lidisky has been awarded the honor as the Belleville News-Democrat Co-Player of the Year.
Lidisky shares the honor with Nashville junior Shawn Rennegarbe. It's the second in as many years for the Lidisky family.
Older brother Sam Lidisky was named Co-Player of the Year in 2011 when he helped lead Althoff to the Class 2A state title.
The state tournament berth was the second for Miranda Lidisky, who tied for 51st place a year ago with a 36-hole total of 171. This year, with the help of her dad, Dan Lidisky, Lancers coach Shauna Ecker and PGA teaching professional Helen Curtain, Lidisky was more polished and consistent.
"I think I was a better player mentally," Lidisky said. "I was able to decide what shots to hit in different situations and I was able to gain a little bit of distance. I just felt I was a little better on all areas of the game.
"My goal was to shoot par and just be very steady and consistent. It was good to see the scores, even little by little, coming down and to be able to play golf with my teammates. I love my teammates. I've made some great friends.''
While Ecker and Curtain helped Lidisky with her game this past season, she relied on her dad the most.
"My dad has really helped me with my game. When I am struggling with a certain aspect of my game, I can go to him and ask, 'Dad, will you help me with this?' and he's very good about it. He's very knowledgeable about the game.''
But even Dan Lidisky couldn't do all that much as his daughter fought the extreme fatigue as part of the mononucleosis.
"It was very rough,'' Lidisky said. "Physically, I was pretty tired. I just decided that I have to get through this and I have to be the best player I can be no matter what the circumstances. I gritted my teeth and I played right through it.
"The toughest part was the fatigue. But I just focused and I focused on the next shot. I just wanted to do the best that I could.''
Ecker said the adversity brought out the best in Lidisky.
"Miranda came down with mono going into regionals but she never let the extreme fatigue stop her,'' Ecker said. "Her biggest strength is her determination and her drive to always better herself. Adversity really pushes her to go all out.''
Ranked first academically in her senior class of 547 at Belleville East, Lidisky will play college golf someplace next season.
Planning on majoring in education, Lidisky is considering Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Truman State, Eastern Illinois and St. Xavier University.
But she will always be a Lancer at heart.
"I realized up at the state tournament that this is my last time playing for Belleville East and I decided that I just had to make it count. I did that day. I was proud of my score that day,'' Lidisky said.
"To finish with a state medal and to be all-state was very exciting. It showed me what hard work can accomplish.''
